Help coming as more Tulare County wells run dry

EAST PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's been months since many homes in East Porterville have had running water, and each month Tulare County finds out more wells have run dry.

"Folks that have been without water, some of them have been without water since this time last year," said Denise England with Tulare County Water Resources.

England says brainstorming is ongoing on how they can help those in need. The latest numbers from the Tulare County Office of Emergency Resources show 784 wells are now dry in the county. A map shows the majority of those wells are in East Porterville.

The county says the ongoing disaster is like running a marathon. "We're doing our best to respond," said England.

Plans are already underway for the next piece of help coming to this area. The county will be bringing in portable showers.

"Having a hot shower, having running water, I think those are the things that we take for granted because you have them, and when you don't have them they're things that really distract you from the other things you have to do in life," said England.

The county hopes to have the showers in place in the next two weeks. Nonprofit agencies are also helping. The Tulare County Deputy Sheriff's Association donated a 5,000-gallon water tank just last month. The county is also looking at getting money from the newly passed water bond.

"Those funds will be targeted for those types of long-term projects," said England.

Long-term projects that may not bring full-time relief for three to five years.